The idea that the Olympic Mountain Goats should be eradicated from the
Olympic National Park was mostly based on the claim that these animals
constituted "threats" to a variation of the milkvetch plant.
The Park has occasionally admitted that this plant (Astragalus
australis var. olympicus) is neither endangered nor threatened. However,
the Park Service tried to make a case for killing the goats saying
that the plant is a "candidate for the federal endangered species
list." (It is important to understand that the plant was not
on the endangered list or the threatened list--It was not even on the list
of plants proposed to be listed as endangered or threatened.)

Now, it turns out that Astragalus australis var. olympicus
is no longer a "candidate" for ANY listing by the Fish and Wildlife
Service. None! (See Federal
Register: 50 CFR Part 17, February 28, 1996, Volume 61, Number 40,
pages 7595 through 7609. Enter 02/28/96
as "ON" issue date and enter "50
CFR part 17" AND "Page 7595" as the search terms.)

"Candidate" taxa are species for which the Fish and Wildlife
Service "encourages State and other Federal agencies as well as other
affected parties to give consideration to these taxa in environmental planning."
(See page 7598.) However, because Astragalus australis var. olympicus
is now among those species "proven to be more abundant or widespread
than previouly believed or those that are not subject to any identifiable
threat", it is no longer even in the candidate category. (Or any category
for that matter).

One would hope that the Park service would react quickly to this news
and release these animals from the threat of harm (and unnecessary government
expenditures). We shall see.

It is important to note that my arguments for
"sparing" the goats do not depend on the listing status of
Astragalus australis var. olympicus. However, the Park did place
heavy emphasis on the then "candidate" status of the plant. (See
opening statements on page 7 of the Park Service's "Goats in Olympic
National Park: Draft Environmental Impact Statement for Mountain Goat Management.")
I argue that plants depend on animals just as animals depend on
plants. This is an accepted theory of ecology. Strangely, recognition
of this was, to the best of my reading, totally absent in the document.
I have argued that the criteria by which the goats have been judged would
find all herbivores incompatible
with the entire planet.

Note: You can request a copy of the Park Service's decision from: Superintendent,
Olympic National Park, 600 East Park Avenue, Port Angeles, Washington 98362.
The Park Service is no longer accepting public opinion, but your elected
officials (senators,
representative,
President, Vice-President)
still are. (You may also write to: The Honorable Bruce Babbitt, Secretary
of the Interior, 1849 C Street NW, Washington, DC 20240. It wouldn't hurt
to send a copy to the Superintendent's address above.)

Copyright 1996, David Lee Winston Miller. This document
may be linked or copied in any form provided that it is reproduced in its
entirety with the copyright and provided that the links are noted or included.
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